Samuel Ritchie of Scott County,
Virginia
By Emory L. Hamilton
The family of Alexander Ritchie, Sr., moved from Prince Edward County,
Virginia, out of Cassel's Woods, on the Virginia frontier, sometime
shortly after 1770, when the area was still Botetourt County. By 1772,
they had moved down on Clinch River and settled on the southside thereof
at a place which later became the William Gray farm, near the present
Gray's Island of Clinch River. Here they built a log home known as
Ritchie's Fort. The home was likely only a strongly built log house
with portholes for defense, commonly called a "Fort House."
I can find no evidence that it was ever a stockaded fort, although
it may have been.
All this family, except Samuel, later left Scott County, and it is
very probable that some of the family, especially some of the sisters,
remained in Prince Edward County and did not move with the family
to the frontier.
Samuel served 17 days and 99 days under Captain Russell in 1774 in
the militia on the frontier. His brother, Alexander Ritchie, Jr.,
who later settled in Hawkins County, Tennessee, did extensive service
as an Indian Scout on the frontier. Alexander enlisted at Blackmore's
Fort in 1776 when he was only twelve years old, and served intermittently
on tours of duty until after the Revolutionary War.
Samuel Ritchie married, probably around 1790-91, Ann, the daughter
of Patrick and Susanna Walker Porter of Porter's Fort, who lived about
three miles from Ritchie's Fort. This marriage ended up on "the
rocks," for on October 10, 1782, Samuel appeared in the Russell
County court and asked for an annulment of his marriage on two counts
of infidelity. No record has ever been found that the court ever acted
upon the request. However, notwithstanding the fact that he divorced
in 1797, Samuel took the "common law." His wife, Frances
Kindrick, was the daughter of Patrick Kindrick. He had no children
by his legal wife,
Ann Porter, but had one son and five daughters by Frances Kindrick.
Despite the fact that Samuel was living in adultry, it did not seem
to affect his career greatly. He seems to have been highly respected
in the Scott County of his day; and from the appraisal of his estate,
one could say that he was a "good liver" in worldly means.
He was one of the Commissioners to select a site for the county seat
when Scott County was formed in 1814. He was a Magistrate and presided
over the first court held and signed the records as Chairman of the
Board of Magistrates. Prior to 1870, county courts were constituted
by the Board of Magistrates after the manner of the Old English Quarter
Sessions, a magistrate
being elected by the Board for each court session who was called a
Presiding Justice, who signed the court records in the same capacity
as does a Judge today. At the time of his death he was Overseer of
the Poor for the North District, and his name appears on many legal
papers in Scott County.
In order to prevent his wife, Ann Porter Ritchie who was still living
in the neighborhood, from getting any of his property, he gave to
his son, Samuel, Jr., a tract of land and a Negro slave named Jacob.
The son, Samuel, was "harrassed and embarrassed" by the
Sheriff, so that the elder Samuel, during the absence in West Tennessee
of his son, Samuel, Jr., went to the Court of Scott County, and he,
the elder Samuel, being the Senior Justice of the court, found that
the Clerk, John Henry, being young and inexperienced, had entered,
but not registered the deed. Old Samuel got back the deed, lined through
the entry in the deed book, but did not obliterate it. He then destroyed
the deed and had, through his influence as senior Justice, the court
annul the deed.
Samuel, Jr. was much disturbed by this and vowed he would never relinquish
the property. The old man tried to convince him that if he tried to
hold on to it, he would only be harrassed by the Sheriff and promised
he could have it by a later will. The reason for the harrassment by
the Sheriff was that Samuel, Jr., owed five hundred dollars to James
Albert, and Albert had assigned the debt to William H. Kendall (Samuel's
brother-in-law), and Kendall was trying to collect the debt.
Once the elder Samuel was very sick and thought he was going to die,
he made the above deed in haste; but when he got better, he got the
deed back and made a regular will. The children of Samuel must have
been a greedy lot, for the first will did not suit all of the children.
In fact, he said his children would not let him die in peace because
of making wills. Finally, on the afternoon of December 16, 1818 (the
same day Samuel died), a will was made to suit young Samuel. About
six months later, Samuel, Jr., died in West Tennessee, unmarried and
without heirs. His mother, Frances Kindrick, had gotten hold of his
land and sold it to her son-in-law, John Kindrick. The other son-in-law,
William H. Kendall, who had gotten from James Albert the five hundred
dollar debt against young Samuel Ritchie, was trying to collect and
brought suit charging some "hocus pocus" was going on.
On June 10, 1819, Ann Porter Ritchie, listed as the "widow of
Samuel Ritchie, deceased," made a deed to the children of Samuel
Ritchie that he had by Frances Kindrick of her dower in his estate.
In 1818, the year of his death, Samuel Ritchie, Sr., was taxed for
three tracts of land, all on Clinch River, of 190, 120 and 32 acres.
In his will, (Book 1, page 117) he directs his executors to sell the
120 and 32 acre tracts, his personal property, and five Negro slaves
to pay his personal debts, etc. He further disposes of his property
as follows:
"To the heirs of my brother, John Ritchie,
deceased, $4
To the heirs of my brother, Alexander Ritchie,
deceased, $4
To the heirs of my brother, James Ritchie,
deceased $4
To the heirs of William Crockett and my sister
Agness, both deceased $4 (This couple were married in Prince Edward
County, VA in 1760)
To the heirs of John Simpson and my sister,
Catherine, his wife, both deceased $4.
To the heirs of Thomas Rice and my sister,
Mary, his wife, both deceased $4
To my sister, Susanna Ritchie and her heirs,
$4
To my friend, Frances Kindrick, the tract
of land whereon I now live of 290 acres; also $200; also 1/6 of my
estate.
To my daughter, Jane Lowe, after deducting
$200, 1/6 of my estate,
To each of his daughters, Susanna, Mary (Polly),
Frances Adeline, and Rachel Ritchie, he leaves 1/6 of his estate.
Witness to the will were William Wallace, James Albert and J. L. Culbertson.
The appraisement of the estate was dated January 23, 1819, and included
five slaves, law books, Bible, dictionary, and other items to the
value of $2,825.75.
The children of Samuel Ritchie and Frances
Kindrick were:
1. Samuel Ritchie, Jr., died
unmarried
2. Jane Ritchie married Isaac
Lowe
3. Susanna Ritchie, married William
H. Kendall
4. Mary (Polly) Ritchie m. John
Kindrick
5. Frances Adeline Ritchie m.
John R. Porter
6. Rachel Ritchie m. Henry Salling
There is also an interesting story of Samuel's son-in-law, Isaac Lowe,
was not Isaac Lowe at all, but really John L. Elliott, born in Kentucky,
September 30, 1794, and said to have been the son of by descendants
James and Hanna Scott Elliott. When a young boy, he ran away from
his home in Bath County, Kentucky, and went to that part of Russell
County which later became Scott County, and changed his name to Isaac
Lowe, so as to avoid being found. We find him, along with Samuel Ritchie,
Jr., James Cocke, and John Dunkin, on a "good behavior"
bond in Russell County, Virginia, February 24, 1795. Isaac and Jane
lived in Scott County, Virginia until 1823, when they moved to Morgan
County, Kentucky.
He also appears on personal property tax lists through 1822. They
lived on a tract of 240 acres of land they had bought on July 29,
1816, from John and Mary Alley. The latter having moved sometime earlier
to Franklin County, Indiana.
By the 1820 census of Scott County, Isaac and Jane were the parents
of four sons, all under the age of 10 years. One of these sons was
Ephraim Blane Elliott, born about 1829-30. Another was Judge John
M. Elliott, probably the same for whom Elliott County, Kentucky, was
named.
While living in Russell County (now Scott), Isaac Lowe, on the 13th
of September, 1814, along with many others, entered the War of 1812,
at Dickensonville, Virginia. They marched away to Norfolk, Virginia,
where they arrived one month later. They left under the command of
First Lieutenant Andrew Caldwell, Third Lieutenant Hiram Kilgore and
Ensigns John Bickley and William D. Haft. At Norfolk, they became
a part of the Fourth Virginia Regiment of Militia, under General Taylor
and Lieutenant Colonel Koontz, and Isaac Lowe was appointed Fourth
Corporal.
At Norfolk many of the men were put to work building barracks, among
whom was Isaac Lowe. A log fell on his leg, breaking it some two or
three inches above the ankle and he was subsequently discharged on
March 12, 1814.
After his return to Kentucky and the resumption of his true name,
John L. Elliott, he started to accumulate property. In 1825, he was
appointed Deputy Surveyor of Morgan County. In 1829, he was taxed
for three tracts of land of 200, 400 and 1,430 acres. Each years afterwards
his acreages increased. He appears on the 1830 census of Morgan County
and on the 1840 and 1850 census of Carter County. He died in October,
1855.
Amended
Pension Statement of Alexander Ritchie, Jr.
R-8784
State of Tennessee
Claiborne County
First Judicial Circuit 1886, April the 26th
Present the Honorable Samuel Powell, Judge. Then personally appeared
before the said court Alexander Ritchie, Jr., and made this amendment
to his declaration originally filed at Washington for the purpose
of drawing a pension according to the benefits offered by the Act
of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832.
Deposeth and sayeth that he entered the army
of the United States under the following officers and served as herein
stated.
That he resided in the county of Fincastle, now Russell, in the state
of Virginia, and in the month of April, 1776, he entered the service
of the United States under the command of Captain martin from Henry
County in the state of Virginia. Captain Martin was sent out to defend
the Western Frontiers and he enlisted under him in the said month
of April for the term of six months in the cause of his country. He
states that the term of service was not an enrollment, but that he
enlisted and was excepted to (sic) by the commanding officer. The
services that this applicant performed was in about every two weeks,
ranging the mountains in pursuit of the Indians and the reasons that
this applicant was excepted (sic) of at such a tender age was that
the frontiers were in danger and that the men were scarce and he therefore
offered himself to the service of his country and that by the consent
of his father and after his term of service expired this applicant
was discharged.
And this applicant begs leave further to state that in the month of
April in the year of 1777 that he still resided in the county of Fincastle
in the state of Virginia and that he again voluntarily enlisted under
Captain Gipson (sic) in the cause of his country for the term of six
months to guard Blackmore's Fort in what is now Scott County in said
State and he served out the whole term for which he was enlisted and
the order of the Captain under whose command he was to range the mountains
in pursuit of the Indians every two weeks which this applicant performed
in good faith to his country; after his term of service expired, he
received his discharge which is lost or mislaid so that he cannot
produce the same. This applicant further states that sometime in the
month of April, 1778, that he then resided in the county of Fincastle,
in the state of Virginia, and that he again voluntarily enlisted himself
in the cause of his country under the command of the above named Captain
Gipson and they who was forted at that place. (I mean Blackmore's
Station or Fort). This applicant most positively states that he did
perform the duties assigned him as a soldier and that he spied through
the whole country for many miles around the fort until his term of
service expired and applicant states that he then received his discharge.
He states that during the last aforementioned campaign or tour of
duty that they had one engagement with the Indians. This applicant
states that he moved with his father from the Fort in the fall of
1778 to his father's plantation where he continued to live until the
12th of March the next ensuing and early in the morning of the 12th
the news reached this applicant that the Indians had broke out and
had killed six persons belonging to the family of a man by the name
of Phillips. He then moved to Duncan's Fort where he remained until
the month of April in said year of 1779, when this applicant again
enlisted in the cause of his country under Captain John Snoddy for
the term of six months and said applicant states most positively that
he did serve in the army of the United States for the term of six
months; and after his term of service had expired, he received his
discharge, which said discharge is lost or mislaid so that he cannot
produce the same. He states that during the last above mentioned tour
of duty that they had no general engagement with the Indians. He sates
that all of the services that he rendered the country as above described
was as a private, and the said applicant begs leave further to state
that in the month of April in 1780 that he again enlisted in the service
of his country under the aforesaid Captain Snoddy for the term of
six months for the purpose of guarding Dunkin's Fort in the same country
as aforementioned; and this applicant ranged the mountains in pursuit
of the Indians according to the orders of the Captain under whom he
entered and said applicant states most positively that he had many
hard and dangerous trips after the enemy during the said tour of duty
but that they had no general engagement with the enemy. He states
that his servitude in the campaign was entirely devoted to the defense
of the west and states that he did actually serve out that in actual
serve the aforementioned term of six months in the cause of his country.
The applicant states that he was a private when he rendered the service
as described in the year of 1780, after his term of service had expired
he received his discharge from Captain Snoddy which said discharge
was lost or mislaid so that he cannot now produce the same.
And this applicant begs further leave to represent
to the department that sometime in the month of January, 1786, that
this applicant then received an appointment as one of the Indian spies
from Colonel Henry smith of Russell County, Virginia, and he spied
through the Kentucky and Cumberland Mountains and also in the Sandy
Mountains, which is situated in the State of Kentucky. This applicant
states most positively that he did serve for the term of nine months
as one of the Indian spys; and said applicant states that John Alley,
who was likewise a spy, spied with him. He states that he and Alley
left Dunkins Fort on every Monday morning, packed their provisions
on their backs, and ranged through all the above named mountains once
in every week; that is to say, that left the Fort on Monday and returned
to it again of the Sunday thence next ensuing, and this they continued
to do for the term of nine months, commencing on the first day of
February, 1786, and then his term of service for which he was appointed
expired. This applicant states most positively that he did serve as
an Indian spy on the frontiers of Virginia for the aforesaid term
of nine months.
Signed: Alexander Ritchie, Junior
Be it remembered that a Circuit Court of Law continued and held for
the county aforesaid in the State aforesaid at the Courthouse in Tazewell,
by and before the Honorable Samuel Powell, Judge, thereof assigned
and commissioned to hold said court, the same being a court of Record,
and having the power of fine and imprisonment upon the 26th day of
April, 1836, came into the said court Alexander Ritchie, Junior, who
hath subscribed the foregoing declaration and being sworn upon the
Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, saith that the matter an ____________
(illegible) therein set forth therein are true.
In testimony whereof I, Lewis A. Garrett,
Clerk of said court have herewith set my hand and seal of office,
at office in Tazewell the 26th day of April 1836.
Lewis A. Garrett, Clerk
State of Tennessee
Grainger County
This 22nd day of March, 1841, Alexander Ritchie,
a resident of Claiborne County and State aforesaid, personally appeared
before me, Jessee F. Beeler, a Justice of the Peace for this county,
and made oath in due form of law that the facts contained in the following
amended declaration for a pension are true, viz: states that he entered
the service under Col. Christian in the year 1776, under Captain Joseph
Martin, formerly from Henry County, State of Virginia. He was entered
in Washington County this tour of six months service, was under the
authority of the State of Virginia and the State of North Carolina,
and served his time out; and another fact, there was an agreement
between Col. Christian and the Cherokees that a treaty of peace should
be made the spring following: but the leading chief, Dragging Canoe,
under the influence of Cameron, the British agent, kept up their warfare
in small parties and was constantly killing, more or less the white
people, which rendered it necessary to keep up the line of forts all
along the frontiers and spys when we were embodied and regular spys
were appointed. Myself and Elisha Wallen was two that reconnoitered
from Blackmore's Fort, Castlewoods, and on to the Clinch and Holston
River. In 1778, the whole frontier was harrassed by Dragging Canoe
and his party, and they were again called out in the spring of the
year for a six-month and served in and took the appointment of Spy
again until the breaking up of winter of 1779. He was then enrolled
under Col. Evan Shelby of twelve-months men; Dragging Canoe, having
increased his strength to 12 or 1,300 men, was doing mischief all
along the line from Georgia to the State of Pennsylvania. This tour
of service (he had forgotten if it were more than six months, as they
were retained in actual service only six months), but they now took
the place of spys again after Dragging Canoe and his party were driven
to the mouth of Big Creek - where Rogersville now stands. Col. John
Montgomery had the command in this affair. About 40 Indians were killed,
having on the approach of their force retreated. This twelve-month
tour was under the authority of the state of Virginia and North Carolina
and he expected there was an act passed by Legislature for that purpose.
He knew they were ordered by the Governor through General Campbell
who issued all the orders by the Governor to the frontier line under
field officers and to the brigade. A thousand men were called out
this last tour, which was one of the great hardships; and in the latter
part of the summer, a treaty was concluded. In August, and even after
that until the latter part of the year. 1781, they were continued
in service either as spies, militia or volunteers. Col. Shelby, Col.
Christian and Col. Avery of North Carolina was some of the commanders
that treated for peace with the Indians. There are many particulars
that from age and forgetfulness had escaped his memory, but these
facts taken in connection with his former declaration filed with the
suspended cases and the undisputed testimony of William Condray and
Elisha Wallen, his contemporaries through the service, and this explanation
to the facts of the service commanders and orders to Shelby and Christian
and the treaties of peace. All of these things must be known to the
department, must place his case beyond any doubts and must now feel
satisfied with the additional testimony sent on with this amended
declaration. There must be a favorable decision now after the facts
laid before the board, the hardships he suffered, the starvation through
wet and cold, and all the privation that human flesh is able to bear
- shall he be denied the scanty pittance that Congress had made provisions
for him to receive for his five years suffering? He thinks not. He
would only request that his case have a dispatchable examination.
He might refer to many other circumstances of his service during this
five years and many hardships after the year 1781, in excursions after
the Cherokees under Col. Sevier and until 1787 or 1788, and his contemporaries
William Condray, Elisha Wallen, William Steward, and others that waded
through blood for many years for the protection and settlements of
the frontier.
In conclusion he now states that this amended declaration taken in
connection with his former declaration and this deposition now sent
on, will, he is in hopes, make every part of his case plain from the
great length of time since these events transpired and his great age.
There are many little circumstances and perhaps some important ones
that has escaped his memory which in some points might seem clothed
in some mystery, but feels that on careful examination will be found
that most matured facts are all stated and by reference to the first
declaration, comparing dates will be found generally correct. He has
no memorandum or records in his possession and has stated all from
memory and frail as before stated. Dr. Alfred Noel is his agent to
transact this business and corresponds for him and will attend to
getting his certificate if allowed and prays to be placed on the Revolutionary
pension roll according to his service.
Sworn and subscribed this day and year first
above written.
Alexander Ritchie
Jessee F. Beeler
Justice of the Peace for Grainger County
And I Jessee F. Beeler, one of the Justice
of the Peace for the said County, do certify that the foregoing amended
declaration was sworn and subscribed to in my presence in due form
of law and that the facts stated upon his knowledge he knows to be
true and these found in this information of others he believes to
be true.
Jessee F. Beeler
J. P. for Grainger County
Historical Sketches of Southwest Virginia, published by The Historical
Society of Southwest Virginia, Publication 12 - 1978, page 21 to 27
